Monaco’s Peace and Sport, an official charity partner of the ING NYC Marathon came to run the world’s most famous race, but after it was cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, mobilized its team to help the victims, according to its President and Founder, Joel Bouzou.
The 18 runners from Team Peace and Sport who made it to New York volunteered with an American Red Cross disaster relief crew, helping to distribute food and water supplies in a community center located in a hard-hit area of downtown Manhattan.
“An organization like Peace and Sport must react in a pragmatic and positive way to get involved in emergency recovery operations. This is why, as soon as the storm hit and it became clear the damage was considerable, we immediately set up a volunteer program to allow our runners to join the recovery efforts and assist those affected. After the marathon was cancelled, the team’s energy was re-focused to help the American Red Cross,” said Bouzou.
The Ambassador of Monaco to the United States, H.E. Gilles Noghès, congratulated Peace & Sport for their humanitarian contribution and is looking forward to continuing supporting their participation in the next marathon which symbolizes the values promoted by their organization.
“The international community spirit that the Principality is renowned for was certainly highlighted this weekend when Peace & Sport rallied their team members to help New Yorkers after the devastating storm. We are so proud they supported the local relief efforts,” said Maguy Maccario, Monaco’s Consul General in New York.
Sylvain Héraud, Peace and Sport’s Project Manager said the team understood the organizer’s decision to cancel the race. “We fully support the City; though we cannot run this year, we can contribute in other ways. By bringing help to victims, we want to show that sport is synonymous with solidarity. Our message of peace became evident this weekend. Team Peace and Sport has already started to make plans for the ING NYC Marathon in 2013.”
About Peace and Sport
A neutral and apolitical organization based in Monaco, Peace and Sport is a global initiative under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. It was selected in 2010 by the marathon organizers as one of the official participating charities. In 2010, Team Peace and Sport brought 20 runners from around the world to participate, including podium stars Wilson Kipketer and Tegla Loroupe (winner of the NYC marathon in 1994 and 1995). In 2011, Peace and Sport opened its US office to promote the practice and the values of sport in order to educate young generations, foster social stability, reconciliation and dialogue between communities. Peace and Sport intervenes in areas made vulnerable by extreme poverty, recent conflict or natural catastrophes. www.peace-sport.us Contact: Jeremy Bellotti, phone: +1-317-418-7249
